Seagrass regression caused by fish cultures in Fornells Bay (Menorca, Western Mediterranean)

摘要: A three year monitoring programme (1988-1990) of embayment habitats dominated by the seagrasses Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa was carried out in Fornells Bay (Menorca, Western Mediterranean), where gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus) artificially reared. Responses ranging from shoot density decrease to total seagrass demise were observed. more drastically quickly affected than nodosa. In 1990, a 2 ha significantly degraded. Increased light attenuation, sedimentation rates, grazing pressure are proposed as principal factors accounting for regression.